Self-adjusting sewing machine gage

ABSTRACT

A gauge for positioning fabrics beneath a sewing machine needle and thus controlling the distance between a stitch and and edge of the fabric. Adjustment means for preventing the gage from obstructing the material feed by a possible protruding portion of the material are provided when an edge is configurated with acute angles. Automatic means for resetting the gage to a normal position, once the protruding obstruction of material has passed the gage is provided.

United States Patent Kalish [451 Nov. 28, 1972 [54] SELF-ADJUSTING SEWING MACHINE 3,263,634 8/1966 Gross ..112/153 GAGE 3,228,365 1/1966 Yoshida ..l 12/ 153 Inventor: Kalish, Dietefle Gray ..l X

Crescent, Rego Park, NY. 1 1374 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter [221 Sept Attorney-Jacob L. Kollin 21 Appl. No.: 582,009

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..1l2/153 A gauge for positioning fabrics beneath a sewing [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 35/10 machine needle and thus controlling the distance Field 01 Search-m1 12/153, 136, between a stitch and and edge of the fabric. Adjust- 112/151, 152 ment means for preventing the gage from obstructing the material feed by a possible protruding portion of [56] References Cited the material are provided when an edge is configu- UNITED STATES PATENTS rated with acute angles. Automatic means for resetting the gage to a normal position, once the protruding ob- 258,736 5/1882 Fisher ..l 12/ 153 struction of material has passed the gage i id 726,322 4/1903 Meckel et a1. ..1 12/153 X 3,020,864 2/1962 Katz ..112/153 2 Clains, 7 Drawing figures PATENTEI] REV 28 I972 3. 7 03 8 7 3 SHEET 1 or 2 v SELF-ADJU STING SEWING MACHINE GAGE This invention relates generally tosewing .machine gages. More specifically it'relates to gages for positioning fabrics beneath the sewing machine needle andthus controlling the distance between a stitch and an edge of the fabric.

A principal object of thepresent inventionis toqprovide a sewing machine gage for controlling the distance of a running stitch relative to the .edge of a material, and which has self-contained adjustment means :for preventing the gage from obstructing the material feed in case a protruding portion of the material comes into abutment with thegage. Such protruding portion may occur when an irregular edged material is rotated under the sewing machine needle; particularly when the irregular edge is configurated with v.acute angles, such as in the lapel of a mans jacket and the like.

Another object is to provide aself-adjusting sewing machine gage which has further adjustment means-for producing margins between the stitchingand edge and which is variable in distance.

Yet another object is to providea self-adjusting sewing machine gage having means for automatically resetting itself to a normal position, once the protruding obstruction of material has passed the gage.

Yet another object is to providea self-adjusting sewing machine gage which remains in gaging operation for making a gaged margin throughout the time that the material obstruction is in abutment with the-gage.

Other objects are to provide a self-adjusting sewing machine gage which is simple in-design, inexpensive-to manufacture, rugged in construction, :easy touse and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the 'accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the present invention shown in operative use upon a sewing machine,

FIG. 2 is across-sectional view taken on -line 2- 2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device :shown in a retracted position caused by -a protruding obstruction upon a material coming into engagement therewith,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the invention shown secured to a sewing machine pressure foot,

FIG. 5 is a similar view thereof showing a further modified form of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the construction shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view thereof showing'a further modified construction.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I the reference numeral 10 represents a self-adjusting sewing machine gage according to the present invention wherein there is a main body member 12 of generally channel-shaped configuration and which is adjustably slidable over a base member 14 secured to a sewing machine base 16. The member 12 provides support means for a self-adjusting gage 18 which is slidable therupon.

The base member 14 comprises an elongated for the purpose of securement to the base l6 of the machine. A series of'notches 28are selectively engageable by a latch mechanism 30 on the main body memberl2-for thepurposeof locking-member 12 and the base together.-

The mainbodymember 12'isof'U-shaped cross-sectional configuration with thesidewalls 32 downwardly converging was to grasp the base and not to separate therefrom. The latch mechanism 30comprises a plate 34under the top wall-36 of member 'l'2=which ispivotable about a fulcrum securedto member 12. An intergal handle 38 and leaf spring '40 are provided at one end of plate 34 and a tooth 42 at its oppositeend'for engagement with the notches 28. Thus, by manually depressing handle 38 against the action of spring 40 (which bears against the inner side of aside .wall 32) the tooth-can be disengaged-fromthe'notchesso that member 12 may beslid on bar 14' to a selected position. On release of the handle, the spring will cause engagement of the tooth in a selected notch. The member 12 includes a transversely inclined rail 44 integral therewith, and upon which the gage 18 travels.

-The gage l8 includes-an upstanding wall 46 against which the material 48 which is'being' stitched may slide during travel under'needle 50 to form stitch 52 at a selected distance away from the material edge 54. The gage includes an upper and lower shoe 56 and 58; the rail 44 being therebetweem A tension coil spring '60 below the lower shoe '58 is connected at one end to a lug6l formed on shoe 58 and at its other end to a side wall 32 of member1'2. A series of upstanding nodes 62 are formedalong an edge of upper shoe 56, asshown.

In an operative use, the material 4.8 is fed under needle 50 while guiding material edge 54 alongside the gage 18, so as to produce a uniform marginal distance between-stitch '52 and edge :54. 'Should the edge '54 be irregularly configurated as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, wherein agarment lapel is shown being stitched, the garmentwill require rotation during feeding, so that the stitch margin may be maintained uniform. When such material is thus rotated from the position shown in'FlG.

1 to the position shown in FIG. .3, the gage is thus located directly in the path of the edge 54a 'When this edge abutz with the gage 18, :the gage then is pushed aheadby the .edge'54a, 44, particularl y if the material is heavy, such as is used in overcoats or the like. When the gage attains a positionsufliciently more rearward than the needle, the material is than-rotated so that the stitch may continue in spaced marginal distance along the edge 54a. When the material is thus rotated, the spring 60 retracts the gage back to the original position. Thus the sewing operation has been .able to'proceed without stopping or interference from the gage; and during the retracting period .the gage .continued to serve its gaging purpose.

In FIG. 4, a modified formp64 of the invention is shown, wherein the sewing machine pressure foot'66 has a sidewardly extending pad 68 formed on one of the .toes 70. The pad has an enlargedbead 72 which extendsrearwardly. A gage 74 is'secured slidably free around the bead, the .gage being slidable .to the rear against the action of a spring, (not shown), whichmay be generally similar in operation as above described. The edge 76 of .a material 78 is 'thus moved alongside the gage to produce a uniform marginal .distance between stitch 80 and edge 76.

In FIG. 5 another variation 82 of the above modified form is shown wherein an upwardly pivotable gage 84 is supported on a pin 86 secured to one side 88 of a pressure foot 90. In this construction, similar to the construction shown in FIG. 4, the gage extends lower downward than the pressure foot so that a side of the gage is alongside the material passing below the pressure foot. When a protruding portion of a material abuts with the gage shown in FIG. 5, the gage simply pivots upwardly, due to the rounded front lower comer 92, and the gage rides over the protruding portion, after which IT simply falls back into original operating position.

In FIG. 6 a construction 94 is shown wherein a gage 96, similar to the gage shown in FIG. 5, is mounted upon the end of a main body member 98, similar to the main body member shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 7 a construction 100 is shown which is generally similar to the construction shown in FIG. 1, but wherein the main body member 102, instead of being secured to a stationary base therebelow, is here secured to a ram 104 slidably therebelow the ram 104 being pevotable at one end to the end of a base 106 secured on a sewing machine by downward extending dowels 108 that fit into corresponding openings in the sewing machine base. A second gage 110 is integrally formed and adjustably retained on the base 106 by means of a latch mechanism 30 as above described.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a self-adjusting sewing machine gage assembly, the combination of a gage, means for supporting said gage on a sewing machine at a predetermined lateral distance from the needle of said machine so to form a uniform marginal distance between a stitch on a material and an edge of said material, and said gage having self-adjusting means to accomodate a protruding portion of said material that may come into abutment position with said gage, said gage asembly comprising a base, means for securing said base to a base of a sewing machine, a main body member slidably retained on said base, latch means for securing said main body member at a selected position of said base, a rail integrally formed on said main body member, a gage slidably retained on said rail, said gage comprising an upstanding wall to provide gaging means, an upper shoe and lower shoe, said rail being received between said shoes, and a tension coil spring secured at one end to said gage and secured at its other end to said main body member to provide return means for said gage slidably along said rail.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for securing said base to a sewing machine base comprises a ram, means pivotably securing said ram to said base, said main body member being slidably on said ram, and a second gage slidably secured on said base. 

1. In a self-adjusting sewing machine gage assembly, the combination of a gage, means for supporting said gage on a sewing machine at a predetermined lateral distance from the needle of said machine so to form a uniform marginal distance between a stitch on a material and an edge of said material, and said gage having self-adjusting means to accomodate a protruding portion of said material that may come into abutment position with said gage, said gage assembly comprising a base, means for securing said base to a base of a sewing machine, a main body member slidably retained on said base, latch means for securing said main body member at a selected position of said base, a rail integrally formed on said main body member, a gage slidably retained on said rail, said gage comprising an upstanding wall to provide gaging means, an upper shoe and lower shoe, said rail being received between said shoes, and a tension coil spring secured at one end to said gage and secured at its other end to said main body member to provide return means for said gage slidably along said rail.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for securing said base to a sewing machine base comprises a ram, means pivotably securing said ram to said base, said main body member being slidably on said ram, and a second gage slidably secured on said base. 